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Colorado Attorney General Sues Over Gay Marriage

Heather Shockey and Tracey MacDermott after getting their marriage license at the Boulder County Clerk and Recorders Office in Boulder Wednesday, June 25, 2014. (Photo by Alex Burness/The Daily Camera)

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DENVER (AP) — Colorado’s Republican attorney general on Thursday followed through with his threat to sue the Boulder County clerk for issuing same-sex marriage licenses.

The lawsuit from Attorney General John Suthers is the latest in Colorado’s gay-marriage legal fight, which has escalated since the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver ruled last week that same-sex couples have the right to marry. The ruling was put on hold pending appeal, and because of that, Suthers has maintained that the state’s gay-marriage ban remains in effect and that the licenses issued by Boulder are invalid.

Still, Boulder County Clerk Hillary Hall has continued issuing licenses since the appeals court ruling.

Suthers and Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper have said same-sex marriages should wait until the U.S. Supreme Court settles the question.

“Regretfully, our office was forced to take action against Boulder County Clerk Hillary Hall due to her refusal to follow state law,” Suthers said in a statement.

“While we would prefer not to sue a government official, Ms. Hall’s actions are creating a legal limbo for both the state and the couples whose relationships she wants to champion.”

In a statement after the lawsuit’s filing, Hall said Suthers is “seeking to force me to violate the fundamental rights of gay and lesbian couples who apply for a marriage license.”

Hall went on to say that it’s Suthers’ prerogative to take legal action until the Supreme Court rules on the issue, but she made clear she would not stop issuing licenses to gay couples.

“I think the least harmful and most sensible solution is to issue marriage licenses and avoid the potential of more civil rights violations while this plays out in court. I hope the court will agree with me,” she said.

Nearly 100 licenses had been issued by the end of Wednesday.

While the governor has not criticized Hall’s actions, he said Thursday that because the decision from the appeals court is on hold, officials should wait until a higher court issues a definitive ruling.

“She obviously feels very passionately about this,” Hickenlooper said about Hall. “In a way, I think you can argue it’s some form of civil disobedience.”